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Home»Region»Vatican recognises French monks killed in Algeria as martyrs

Vatican recognises French monks killed in Algeria as martyrs

By AFP - Jan 27,2018 - Last updated at Jan 27,2018

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Saturday declared seven French Trappist monks beheaded by Islamists in Algeria in 1996 as martyrs, paving the way for their beatification — the first step towards sainthood.

On the night of March 26-27 1996, the monks were abducted from the Priory of Our Lady of Atlas in Tibehirine, about 80 kilometres south of Algiers, by members of the insurgent Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA).

Their heads were discovered two months later and their death was announced by the GIA.

The monks are part of 19 clergy slain in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, including Bishop Pierre Claverie of Oran.

The Jordan Times

The Jordan Times is an independent English-language daily published by the Jordan Press Foundationsince October 26, 1975. The Jordan Press Foundation is a shareholding company listed on the Amman Stock Exchange.